An antiterrorism court Wednesday rejected bail pleas of mayor-designate Waseem Akhtar and Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Rauf Siddiqi in a case that holds them accused of facilitating terrorism.
Meanwhile, the counsel of Pak Sarzameen Party’s Qaimkhani, M Ilyas Khan, filed a plea in the Sindh High Court against the ATC’s decision. Qaimkhani stated that he had nothing to do with former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain’s case and he should be granted bail. The bail plea of Pakistan People’s Party’s Abdul Qadir Patel was also rejected by the ATC but he is yet to approach the high court in the matter.
All four of them were presented in the courtroom the other day but the court did not grant extensions in their interim bails in a case against alleged facilitation of terrorists by Dr Asim Hussain.
Qaimkhani, Rauf Siddique and Waseem Akhtar were taken into custody from the courtroom while Patel left the premises in his vehicle only to surrender himself at Boat Basin Police Station.
Home Minister Suhail Anwar Siyal ordered arrest of Patel for which a team was formed that raided his office and residence in Defence Housing Authority. The three accused were involved in a case relating to treatment of alleged terrorists at former federal minister Dr Asim Hussain’s hospitals.
Dr Asim Hussain, a PPP leader, was arrested last year by Rangers and a case was registered against him in North Nazimabad Police Station after 90 days of remand. The case charges Dr Hussain of providing shelter to terrorists in name of medical treatment.
PSP leader Syed Mustafa Kamal had held a press conference on Tuesday and urged his supporters throughout Pakistan to remain calm and not cause agitation. Kamal had stated that PSP would legally pursue Anees Qaimkhani’s release.